Note: None of these Characters belong to me. They are based on the characters by Charlaine Harris and HBO's True Blood.

Chapter 1: Convincing Godric

Sookie couldn't understand the words they were saying, they were speaking in another language, but she could read the body language of the two men standing in front of her. Eric was in great pain, and though a different kind, she could tell that Godric was as well. She wanted to help but hadn't the faintest clue as to how she could help either of them. She watched as Eric fell to his knees in front of Godric, and she could actually feel the despair rolling off him, she had never in a million years expected to ever see Eric this vulnerable. Who knew he actually had it in him? Eric was bent almost to the ground under his pain.

"Let me go." Godric's plea straightened Eric's back.

"I won't let you die alone." Eric tried to sound resolute.

"Yes you will," Godric said this with a faint smile on his face. And Eric's frame seemed to bow again under his grief. Sookie felt close to tears herself. She watched as Godric reached out and smoothed Eric's hair, holding his neck, his light touch forcing Eric up to meet his gaze, "As your maker, I command you." Eric looked deeply into his maker's face moment then rose to his feet and began slowly walking towards the exit, the light of the pre-dawn becoming brighter as he came closer to Sookie. She could see the bloody tear marks on his face and the pain that made him turn back to look at Godric one last time. She reached out for Eric's hand, "I'll stay with him. As long as it takes." It was the only condolence she could offer. Eric nodded slightly and headed off the roof.

Sookie walked across the roof towards Godric. Towards the man who had saved her life twice tonight.

How can he want this? Was all she could think as she came closer to the two thousand year old vampire who looked like a boy of maybe seventeen. Why would he save so many lives if he only wanted to end his own? Were all his words about vampires needing to change motivated by despair? Are all vampires monsters? How could they be when there are wonderful men like Bill? What about Jessica – I refuse to believe that all her humanity is gone. Look at the scene I just witnessed. Eric! Eric CRYING for goodness sake! If Eric can be humanized by Godric's influence, then maybe others...

She looked over at Godric staring out across the cityscape.

"It won't take long, not at my age." Godric was looking out towards the east where Sookie could see the horizon getting brighter with every passing moment.

"You know it wasn't very smart, the Fellowship of the Sun part?"

Godric nodded his head sadly, "I know. I thought it might fix everything somehow. But I don't think like a vampire anymore." Ha, Sookie thought, maybe I can convince him...

"Do you believe in God?" Godric had turned his head to look at her, interrupting her thoughts.

"Yes."

"If you're right, how will he punish me?" Godric's eyes were pleading.

"God doesn't punish. God forgives."

"I don't deserve it," Godric was shaking his head, "but I hope for it." Despair and fatigue clear in his ancient eyes and in the set of his shoulders. She could tell he was tired. Tired of life, of killing, of everything it seemed. Maybe he wouldn't listen but she had to try, and soon. Dawn was coming.

"We all do." She could tell Godric was going to say something else but she held up a hand. "But we must try to earn it."

Godric's brow became quizzical. "What do you mean?"

"In this life we must seek forgiveness in our actions, try and make amends with our deeds. You started tonight by saving all those people in the church. Not to mention me...twice." Sookie then threw all caution to the winds, "Godric we need you."

"I don't understand."

"Godric, this is a critical time for relationships between vampires and humans. Vampires are finding it hard to change their ways, and humans can't help but be scared of beings so similar but so different...and frightening. We need people like you who are powerful and respected in the vampire community and who think like you do. You have a ...a," Sookie cast around trying to find the right word to convey what she needed him to understand, "a reverence for human life. Not many vampires think of humans like that. Most of them think of us as cattle, something beneath them. Not only not worthy of respect but only to be used and then cast aside. I understand it has been that way throughout history when there was no other way, but there is now. I know vampires are governed by different laws, but vampires like you and Bill, who believe humans are worthy of respect and trust, need to speak up. Don't you see how useful you can be? How important? If you cannot see a point in what I am saying then I will shut up and do as I said I would do, be here with you till the end, but I would ask you to consider how influential you could be to convincing others. You could help stop further violence." Sookie had been looking down at her feet for most of her speech, blushing at her temerity. She looked up, into Godric's eyes, her own shining with sincerity.

Looking into his face she could see the smoke now rising from his body.

"Please Godric, you can always meet the sun some other day." Her voice broke on that last sentence, and tears welled into her eyes blurring her vision. As the tears flowed down her face, she could see his confusion. He was clearly torn. She had shaken him, but it was now his turn to decide and if he didn't soon, he would meet the sun whether he chose to or not.

"A human with me at what I had decided was my end, with human tears. Two thousand years and I can still be surprised, in this I see God." Godric was smiling. Sookie's heart dropped. She had failed. While they had been talking the sky had lightened, the sun rose over the horizon and sent its first rays shooting across the sky. Godric looked over, his face once again torn.

"I shall see you again soon my friend." Sookie had no idea what that was supposed to mean.

Is he talking to me? Then Godric turned and took her hand, and started walking towards the edge of the roof where the exit was.

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